Ferrari, a simple name of humble origins. Proven to draw admiring glances and photograph takers where ever, and when ever, out in public. A Ferrari automobile is a thing of beauty, to be actively enjoyed, and it will always come with history how, ever new it might be.

Having ran Alfa Rome's works racing cars from the Scuderia Ferrari factory it seemed obvious that Ferrari would continue to produce racing cars after the acrimonious 1938 split with Alfa occured. So obvious that Alfa' had a veto put on Ferrari forbidding him to race cars under his own name for Five years. Ferrari simple carried on his business as Auto Avio Costruzioni Ferrari, making aero parts and machine tools, and did rather well out of the second world war, which also used up a chunk of that five year 'no racing as Ferrari' claus. As was to become well known to the world later Ferrari would go his own way regardless, and at the slightest hint of insistence from a group of racers and aristocrats started making sports cars at the same time! The AAC Tipo 815 debuted at the 1940 Mille Miglia and also ran in the Brescia GP. Sadly they proved unreliable and no finishes were recorded.

Ferrari had set the ground rules though, the company made racing cars, whatever anyone else said. This remained his first love, but eventually even 'The Commander' Enzo Ferrari had to give way to the need to make road cars too.... bills have to be paid whoever you are! Although FIAT were able step in and shore up the finances they also put business practicalities in his way. Ferrari had constraints on his racing ambitions as well the demands to make road cars. Somehow he managed to deal with this, usually with his his own lack of regard for others priorities, and Ferrari became one of the worlds 'Luxury brands' as well as a racing car team.

The full histories of both Enzo Ferrari and the Company have been extensively related in books and on the internet, so we'll confine ourselves to the cars, each one of which was like a child of his own to Mr. Ferrari.

1955 Ferrari 625 F1

1/43rd scale kit by FDS-Automodelli.

After two years of F2 regulations Grand Prix racing returned to F1 regulations for the 1954 world championship. The new regulations allowed for 2.5 litre naturally aspirated and 750 cc supercharged engined cars. Ferrari modified their 1952-53 world championship winning 500 F2 car, by boring out the cylinders and lengthening the stroke of the four cylinder engine, renaming it the Ferrari 625 F1. Appart from engine changes little else changed from the F2 500. Minor chassis enhancements for 1955 did not help leaving the 625 out paced by the competition. The team still coaxed a famous win out of the 625 when Maurice Trintignant at Monaco in 1955

1956 Lancia-Ferrari D50

1/24th scale Merit kit.

The 625 was too elderly to remain competitive, the 553 Squalo (Shark) and 555 Super Squalo were disappointingly uncompetitive too so Scuderia Ferrari had some lean times in the results department. Then Lancia lost their lead driver, Ascari, and success dried up they found themselves almost penniless. FIAT stepped in to buy Lancia's assets and Ferrari were given the D50s, spare parts, tools and the tooling and bucks to make more.

In only slightly modified form the Ferrari D50 took Fangio to the F1 world Championship, and saved Ferrari's bacon at the same time.

1960 250GT California

1/24th scale Italeri kit

When Italians emigrated to the United States they took with them a passion for motor racing and an great ability for engineering, as well as names like de Palma, dePaolo and Andretti. No surprise then that another Italian immigrant Luigi Chinetti did a deal to bring Ferrari cars to the USA.

Chinetti had a great affinity for the American market and while he kept his sales very quiet (to protect the privacy of his clients) he made his opinions of the styles and names of cars that would sell very clear.

While the 250 California shares much with the rest of the 250 series the body by Scaglietti stood apart as something much more stylish and luxurious.

1963 250GTO Marenello Concessionaires

1/24th scale Airfix/Gunze Sangyo "high-tech" kit

The 250 GTO could be said to be a response to Jaguars new E-type launched in 1961. Ferrari sales manager Girolamo Gardini saw the unveiling and returned to the factory telling anyone he could get to listen that “They are going to beat us with their new GT,’” Once Ferrari recognised the seriousness of the situation he set up a team to build a new GT car capable of taking on the new threat.

The result was a beautiful car, some historic race partnerships and victories, oh, and a little Ferrari style controversy too.

1964 250LM berlinetta.

1/24th scale Academy kit conversion

Ferrari's 250 GTO was as beautiful as it was all conquering, but all things come to an end and the GTO was superseded by the 250 LM. It was a wholly different vehicle from the GTO in almost every way. While the GTO followed tradition of putting 12 cylinders between the front wheels, the LM had its V12 mounted amidships, in keeping with the new thinking that had swept through F1 and now sports cars. Ferrari had already used the mid-engine layout with 250P prototype and achieved a degree of success, 250 Ps finished first and third at Le Mans in 1963. Thus the choice to use that car as a base for the 250LM seemed logical.

1967 330P4.

1/24th scale Fujimi kit.

There is no doubting this is one of the most beautiful of the Ferrari endurance race cars. Sleek, low and fast it was eventually scuppered by rule changes. But while it was on track it gave the Ford GT40 series a proper fight, even on American race circuits, much to Fords frustration.

1970 512s sports

1/24th scale Protar (Heller) kit.

Ferrari were still discovering the shortcomings and weaknesses of the 512S when they arrived at Daytona for the 1970 Daytona 24 Hours. Five Ferrari 512's were entered, three official team entries and two customer entrants. The design was beset with teething problem such as weak suspension and transmission issues. Mario Andretti put a factory 512S on pole position but the shortcomings took all the other Ferraris out of the race. In the end the Andretti-Merzario-Ickx car finished 3rd.

The Ferrari 512 series had success in other spheres too. One was sold to 'Solar Productions' for Steve McQueen's “Le Mans” film and another, given to Pininfarina, was turned into the Ferrari 512 S Modulo show car.

1973 Ferrari 365GTB/4 "Daytona" Competizione.

1/24th scale Italeri kit conversion.

In the second half of the 1960s conventional wisdom in the
automotive world said sportscars had a mid-engine layout (mostly down
to Lamborghini’s 1966 170-mph Miura). Having reached the end of the
275 GTB4 evolution Ferrari needed something new.

But Ferrari
somewhat shocked the viewers at the 1968 Paris Auto Salon by
unveiling another front-engine design. However, the new Ferrari 365
GTB/4 would go on to be generally regarded as one of Ferrari's
greatest ever GT's.

This model neatly flows from the curvaceous 250GTO and 275GTB and into the later 288GTO's more angular 1970s look. Without doubt it is another Pinifarina masterpiece which cannot be mistaken for any other car; once seen the 365GTB/4 is never forgotten.

1977 365 GTB berlinetta boxer le Mans.

1/24th scale Airfix kit.

The 365 GT4 BB was The first "Boxer" engined Ferrari to go on sale. Originally designed to rival the Lamborghini Miura it was really much more elegant and less outlandish in it’s styling. Designed by Pininfarina and following the P6 show car quite closely it featured pop up headlights, all the rage at the time. The Berlinetta Boxer followed the Daytona but was a very different car. While the engine had moved from the front to the rear it also went from ‘V’ configuration to a flat layout. In truth it is a 180° V12, sharing it’s internal dimensions with the V12 from the Daytona but with a standard firing order.

1981 Ferrari 308GTb.

1/24th scale Bburago kit.

The 308 GTB marked the end of one chapter of Ferrari and the opening of a new one. The 308GTB was a replacement for the Dino 246, but the Dino tag was dropped and these cars became 'true' Ferrari's. While the Dino marque was consigned to the history books Ferrari hit the Worlds TV screens with the 308GTS and the 308GTB was winning Rally (YES, Rally) events!

1982 Ferrari 126C2 F1 turbo.

1/24th scale Protar kit.

The 126 series ran from 1981 to 1984, the 126c2 being raced in 1982. Designed by Mauro Forghieri and Harvey Postlethwaite it should have been a good car. Villeneuve was not a fan of the car which had terrible turbo lag then kicked the power insuddenly making it prone to over using it’s tyres.

Despite the tragedy of Villeneuve's death and some of the stories that surrounded their relationship Pironi still managed to fight on and finished in 2nd place in the drivers championship.

1985 Ferrari F1-85 Turbo.

1/24th scale Protar kit.

Ferrari's first four Turbo-seasons had been a mix bag of results so for 1985 some real changes were needed.

Harvey Postlethwaite worked on a carbon fibre monocoque to keep Ferrari on terms with McLaren and Lotus.Although the designs were making progress and a few wins were taken (even a constructors championship in 1983), everyone was having trouble competing with McLaren.

Mauro Forghieri was replaced by Ildo Renzetti, who came in from Fiat. He oversaw developement of a new engine featuring an aluminium alloy block to replace the sturdy, but heavy, iron one. It proved to be rather fragile though and married to the cars rather poor aerodynamics left Ferrari even further back in the performance stakes.

Alboreto did score wins in Canada and Germany allowing Ferrari to claim 2ndplace in the constructors cup.

1987 Ferrari F40.

1/24th scale Fujimi kit

This is the car Mr Ferrari wanted his firm to build to mark his 40 years in the business. The F40 is a modest little number, predictably painted in red, complete with Perspex rear window-cum-engine-cover, Ferrari 8cyl twin turbo engine and a composite body with inbuilt toughness. What he also wanted was a top speed easily over the magic 200 mph, handling to match and looks to stop the world. Testers suggest that the power should beturned on with the wheels pointing straight ahead, since flooring the accelerator will sendthe car off in a straight line irrespective of front wheel angle!

More Ferrari Special Edition stunners have followed based on the rapturous response to the F40. The F50 has already appeared, Enzo and F70...

1987 Ferrari F1-87.

1/43rd scale Heller kit.

Following the changeable results of the previous few years Ferrari were desperate for a really competitive car. Drastic changes for 1987 were again the order of the day! Gustav Brunner was given clean sheet of paper and together with John Barnard designed the very different F1-87.The new car retained the V6, twin Garrett turbo charged 1.5 litre engine, the Tipo 033, but with a more conventional 90 degree angle. A stunning 880 bhp was claimed, later being squeezed to 960 bhp at 11,500 rpm! A new six speed manual Torsen gearbox was mated to it and this particular part proved to be totally reliable.

Demonstrating flashes ofpotential early in the season Alboreto lead the San Marino GP for a short time. Unfortunately reliability issues intervened, and did so repeatedly, the car retired more times than it finished.

1989 Koenig-Specials "Competition", Ferrari Testarossa

1/24th scale Fujimi kit.

Willy König Started
racing cars in 1961 going on to drive some of the world's best known
cars, like Ferraris, Ford GT 40, Lola, Abarth, Lotus, and more.

Enzo Ferrari didn't like what Koenig did to his cars and demanded the Prancing Horse shields be removed from the cars and that no mention of Ferrari be used in the name. For all the
disagreement with Enzo Ferrari the “Competition” seems to look a
lot more like a Ferrari F40 than the earlier Testarossa, and you
can't help but wonder where Ferrari designers got their ideas for the
F40 from.

Koenig-Specials “Competition” was the most successful
of all Koenig cars with both coupe and cabrio styles being produced,
even today it is the best-known of the Koenig range. While many
people dislike Willy König's creations there is no doubt he was a
1980's tuning-legend and still has many fans all over the world.

1989 Ferrari 640 F1 dio.

1/20th scale Tamiya kit

The last race driver personally signed by Enzo Ferrari, who died in the August of 1988, was Nigel Mansell. 'Our Nige' described this fact as an honour, "one of the greatest in my entire career".

The 640 was the 1st Ferrari to be designed by John Barnard. It featured a flat low nose with a narrow monocoque cockpit area. The side pods were an exaggerated coke bottle shape designed to get maximum aerodynamic airflow through the radiators. To reduce frontal area air was induced into the engine airbox through slots set back in the bodybehind the drivers head. The real innovation of the car was it’s 7-speed semi-automatic gearbox, the first to be run in F1.

1989 was the first season of the new non-turbo era and The first race of the season was held at Jacarepaguá, Brazil. Gerhard Berger qualified his Ferrari 3rd. Mansell, on hisFerrari debut, could manage only 6th. But races are won on Sundays, not Saturdays, and it was Mansell who came through the field to record a Ferrari debut win. The Tifosi took to Mansell immediately and dubbed him "il Leone" due to his fearless driving style.

1992 Ferrari F92-A F1.

1/43rd scale Kyosho kit.

The 644 was designed during a time of great upheaval and political infighting at Ferrari.It was a completely new car featuring a bold concept, a fully separate "floor" suspended beneath the chassis proper. The idea was to create ground effects without breaking the flat bottom regulations. Full length air channels running inboard of the radiator sidepods, above the floor but below the body, gave airflow that was intended to improve rear end grip.

Like many ideas, it looked better on the drawing board than it performed on the track, the team simply unable to translate the wind tunnel figures into on-track performance. With poor handling, and beset by problems from the under powered engine, the car really needed a committed development program. Sadly in-fighting amongst the staff sabotaged this and left the drivers completely demoralized.

1995 Ferrari F50 Barchetta.

1/24th scale Revell kit

Launched at the Geneva Motorshow in 1995, the F50 is ‘a Formula One car for the road' and topped the Ferrari range until 1997. It was a replacement for the F40 and meant to mark Ferrari’s 50th anniversary, though it was two years ahead of that date.

Directly built upon F1-technology and materials the F50 is outstanding for the era. A carbon fibre monocoque type chassis (two door, two seat convertible with a removable hardtop) mated to a contemporary 4.7 litre V12 engine directly developed from 644 F92A Formula One car.

349 sold to the public whilst one was reserved for Ferrari's own collection.

2000 Ferrari F1 F2000.

1/20th scale Tamiya kit

The 51st season of Formula One was to feature seventeen races and the 2000 title battle would be a close contest between Mika Häkkinen, the reigning world champion driving for McLaren, and Michael Schumacher who won 9 races out of 17. It was Schumacher’s third title and Ferrari's first World Driver's Championship for 21 years. Jody Scheckter was the Scuderia’s last drivers champion way back in 1979.

2003 Ferrari F1 F2003GA.

1/24th scale Revell kit.

The Ferrari F2003-GA was designed by Rory Byrne (Chief Designer) and Ross Brawn (Technical Director) . Basically a development ofthe previous years Ferrari F2002, a car that was so good it continued to be used well into the 2003 season.The F2003GA debuted at the Spanish GP, the 5th round, and won first time out.

It was given the "GA" title as a mark of respect to Gianni Agnelli, the head of Fiat who died in January 2003. Schumacher went on to take his sixth drivers' title, breaking Juan Manuel Fangio's 46 year old record.

2005 Ferrari F1 F2005.

1/24th scale Revell kit

Ferrari and Michael Schumacher were dominant in F1 from 2000 to 2004. But after 6 straight constructors championships and five straight drivers championships the winning was about to get hard again.

Debuting at Bahrain, after the first two races in which Ferrari had run the F2004M anupgraded F2004 car and found it no longer good enough to really compete, the F2005 still didn’t match the competition, though on paper it should have, and it’s drivers were certainly trying!

The Barhain Grand Prix was held the day after Pope John Paul II died. Several teams and drivers paid their respects, most notably Ferrari, who blackened their cars nose cones as a mark of respect.

2010 Ferrari F10.

1/24th scale Revell kit.

Towards the end of a dismal 2009 campaign Ferrari stopped work on the F2009 and started looking to an all new design for 2010. a raft of rule changes meant everyone was starting pretty much from scratch so Ferrari could steel a march on the other teams if it started design manufacture and development before them. Saddly it didn't really pay off but the car did flatter it's designers at the opening race of 2010. new driver Fernando Alsonso won the Bahrain GP, his and the cars race debut, with team mate Filipe Massa taking second place on the podium.

Enzo Ferrari's body may have finally failed him in August 1988,

but his name, his spirit and his legacy live on in all the cars from Maranello.